Now that I’m officially in my 3rd trimester I’ve been putting a lot of thought into the essentials we’re gonna need when our son is born. We had so much stuff for the first baby it was ridiculous and lots of it never got used. Having learned so much from my first pregnancy about what I did and didn’t need I wanted to share this list of things you really need for a newborn.
1. Car Seat
For newborns always get an infant car seat. When you go to leave the hospital after delivering they won’t let you take the baby if you don’t have a car seat. We loved the Chicco Keyfit 30 Infant Car Seat.
2. Diapers
You will definitely need lots of these. At the hospital they had an unlimited supply of Pampers Newborn Swaddlers for us to use and take home. When we got home we used the newborn size for maybe another week and went right into size 1. So don’t many newborn diapers. Our favorite diapers are: Pampers Pure Protection.
3. Wipes
These are a must have. My daughter is 2 and we’re still buying a large box of wipes monthly for her. You will be using wipes for a very long time so make sure to get a good brand that you are comfortable with. I like using the: Pampers Aqua Pure Baby Wipes.
4. Diaper Rash Cream
A good diaper rash cream should always be kept on hand. Make sure that it soothes, heals and helps to prevent further diaper rash. Our go to diaper rash cream is: Pinxav.
5. Somewhere For Them To Sleep
Whether it’s a bassinet, crib or pack ‘n play, you’re going to need a safe place for your little one to sleep. Whatever you use make sure that it will grow with your baby and if you want fit by your bedside. Our daughter slept in a bassinet on the side of our bed for the first 3-4 months and it was comforting to have her there next to us. A great bassinet is: HALO Bassinet Premier Series. Crib: DaVinci Charlie 4-in-1 Convertible Crib. Pack n’ Play: Graco Pack ‘n Play Care Suite.
6. Baby Monitor
If your baby is sleeping in the room with you for the first couple of months you may or may not want a monitor. We had one and used it to monitor my daughter during nap time, she would sleep in her bassinet and I could monitor her from the kitchen or home office. When they move to their own room/nursery you definitely want to have one, having a monitor when she was in her room gave us peace of mind and helped us sleep better at night. Our favorite baby monitor: Miku. Check out my blog post review on this unique monitor.
7. Swaddle Blankets
When I got pregnant with my daughter this was one of the most recommended items for us to have. You seriously can never have to many swaddle blankets. We used them as receiving blankets, burping cloths, swaddles, stroller blankets & covers, and car blankets for our daughter. They are so soft and last forever. Our favorites are the: Aden + Anais Essential Swaddle Blankets.
8. Comfortable Zip Up Sleepers
We made the mistake of stocking up on the button up sleepers and let me tell you, we’ll never do that again. When changing them in the middle of night or day when they are sleeping its easiest and best to have the sip up sleepers. They are soft, comfortable for little ones, easy to take off and put on and a lifesaver when it comes to diaper changing when they are sleeping. One of my favorite sleepers is: Burt’s Bees Baby Footed Pajamas.
9. Baby Food: Breastmilk Or Formula
After giving birth I had the hardest time with breastfeeding in the hospital. I ended up having to supplement with formula for a few days and after that I was ok breastfeeding. I breastfed my daughter for 18 months. Some moms cannot or choose not to breastfeed and they use formula. At the end of the day, fed is best and that’s all that matters. When I formula fed we used: Similac Pro-Advance.
10. Nasal Aspirator
After my daughter was born and we got her home she started having a really stuffy nose daily. As gross as it seems we used a nasal aspirator to suck the snot out her nose and it was immediate relief for her. You will do whatever it takes to comfort your child. The nasal aspirator I swear by is: Nose Frida.
11. Pacifiers
Since I breastfed my daughter all day we didn’t really use pacifiers a lot. The few times we tried a pacifier for soothing it worked but didn’t last long because she started sucking her thumb, lol. The only pacifiers that worked for her were: Philips Avent Soothie Pacifiers.
12. Babywash & Babylotion
Newborns don’t need baths everyday. We gave our daughter baths 3 times a week when we came home from the hospital. I made sure the products I used on her skin were gentle, moisturizing and for babies. Baby skin is so delicate and dries out easily so be mindful of what products you use. My favorites are: Mustela Gentle Cleansing Gel & Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion.
If you are a first time mom I understand going overboard and wanting everything because I did the same thing. This list of essentials is really all that you need to get started. More than anything else your baby needs you, so give your little one all the love and snuggles in the world Mama.
